Detailed information about the course

Getting ahead with writing your Thesis: Procrastinastion Management

Dates

25.05. 2018

Lang

Workshop language is English

Organizer(s)

Dr. Esther Leemann UZH

Speakers

Dr. Esther Leemann UZH

Description

Procrastination is the habitual tendency to avoid the start and completion of tasks. Possible impacts of procrastinating include producing lower quality work at the last minute, completing and turning in work late, and increasing levels of stress. Procrastination may hinder PhD candidates to complete their thesis on time, or worse, at all. Procrastination can also take away time you need for sleep, sport, relaxation, relationships, and other elements that contribute to a healthy work-life balance. And when tasks are left until the last minute, there is no buffer zone for unexpected issues that may come up. Remember the advice in Murphy's Laws: "(1) Nothing is as easy as it looks. (2) Everything takes longer than you think. (3) Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." If you put off important tasks over and over again, you are not alone. Many scientists procrastinate to some degree – but some procrastinate so chronically that it stops them fulfilling their potential and disrupts their careers. There are many reasons why we procrastinate, namely self-doubt about performance (Burns 1993), low-frustration tolerance (the tendency to give up if the work feels too difficult) (Ellis & Knaus 1977), and believing myths like 'I work better under pressure' (Cuseo, Fecas & Thompson 2007). The key to controlling this tendency is to recognize when you start procrastinating, understand why it happens and take active steps to manage your time, goals and priorities better. Developing a few techniques to help counteract procrastination can help you to achieve your PhD. In this one-day-course, you will learn how to beat procrastination, and get your tasks done on time.